Mother Nature was a little late this winter, but once she provided us with cold weather and snow, she just didn’t stop! What makes this ideal is that spring break for most schools is early this year and that means families can take advantage of unprecedented snow conditions right now, right here in Michigan.

Plus, to entice folks to ski instead of fleeing to warmer climates, our ski areas are offering great discounts and special events. I encourage skiers to check MSIA’s website at goskimichigan.com and click on the “News, Events, Specials & Discounts” button, which is updated almost daily. Here is a link to that page.

Many Michigan ski areas are still open, but it’s always best to check before heading out to be sure. The following ski areas are either open now, or will be open on the weekends:

Upper Peninsula

Big Powderhorn, Bessemer

Blackjack, Bessemer

Indianhead Mountain, Wakefield

Marquette Mountain, Marquette

Mont Ripley, Houghton

Mt. Bohemia, Lac La Belle

Pine Mountain, Iron Mountain

Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon

Ski Brule, Iron River

Lower Peninsula

Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs (possibly April 6-7)

Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls

Caberfae Peaks, Cadillac

Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville

Cross-Country Ski Headquarters, Roscommon

Nubs Nob, Harbor Springs

Pando Winter Sports Park, Rockford

Pine Knob, Clarkston

Shanty Creek, Bellaire

Will you be hitting the slopes this spring?

Mickey MacWillliams is the executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association. To learn more about skiing in Michigan, visit goskimichigan.comormichigan.org.